A variational finite element discretization of compressible flow (Q2231645)

The paper at hand presents a novel fully discrete finite element variational integrator for compressible flows. The numerical scheme is based on the Lie group formulation of fluid dynamics on diffeomorphism groups and the associated variational principles. Given a triangulation of the fluid domain, the discrete group of diffeomorphisms is defined as a certain subgroup of the group of linear isomorphisms of a finite element space of functions. In this setting, discrete vector fields correspond to a subspace of the Lie algebra of this group that is shown to be isomorphic to a Raviart-Thomas finite element space. The resulting finite element discretization corresponds to a weak form of the compressible fluid equation. The method is structure preserving and, in particular, energy conserving. Numerical experiments that illustrate convergence and conservation properties of the scheme are presented.